At the Marol house where Hanif Syed lived and where the bombs for the twin blasts were allegedly assembled, the present tenant has had enough of the crowd curiosity. Ahmed Khan (name changed), an airconditioner mechanic, wants to leave with his wife and daughter before August 4, the date for arguments on sentencing.

“I took a holiday today to stay home as I knew all kinds of people would come and harass my wife and infant. I am fed up of this place,” he said.

Khan has been staying at the house for two years, having deposited Rs 25,000 and paying Rs 2500 a month. Hanif's son Irfan collects the rent every month; otherwise, Khan said, he has no contact with the family.

Irfan lives in Navi Mumbai. "We have had visits from Crime Branch officials who asked me of Irfan's whereabouts and sought my rent documents, though the court has ruled that the house can be given for rent," Khan said.

"The whole area has come under the scanner. Even simple things like opening a bank account are difficult," he said.

K Yadav, who runs a paan stall, said, "We have just heard that Hanif lived here. Very few people here even remember him."

When Irfan was called up, he said he did not want his name linked with the case.